Pauline Knott, 86, died Thursday, May 29, 2008 at Thief River Care Center, Thief River Falls, MN.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM, Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Antony Fernando presiding. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Red Lake Falls.

Visitation will be 5 " 8 PM, Monday, June 2, 2008 at St. Joseph Church, Red Lake Falls with a 7 PM prayer service led by Father Gerald Noesen. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the funeral service at the church, Tuesday.

Pauline Selma Seeger was born of Fred and Selma (Schaper) Seeger, July 15, 1921 in Red Lake Falls, MN. She attended a rural country school and graduated from high school in 1939. Pauline worked as a switchboard operator for the Garden Valley Telephone Company for several years. She married Henry P. Knott on May 15, 1941; they were married 60 years before Henry passed away on October 11, 2001. Most of those years were spent on a dairy farm southwest of Red Lake Falls, where they worked together to provide for the eleven children that were born to them.

Pauline helped Henry as much as she could with outside chores. In addition, she raised chickens, some of which were butchered for meat while others were laying hens and lots of the eggs were sold. She always had two huge vegetable and fruit gardens from which she harvested and preserved raspberries, strawberries and various vegetables to feed the family through the winter. Pauline also canned Bing cherries, apricots, peaches and pears every summer. With the kids by her side she worked hard and taught them many things about food preservation, gardening and cooking.

She instilled in her children a love of nature, especially the night sky and birds. Pauline made it possible for each of the children to participate in extra-curricular activities during their school years. She also enjoyed working in the flower garden; some of her favorites were purple iris, peonies, dahlias and wild lady slippers.

Pauline and Hank provided foster care for five children during their years on the farm.

Outside of the home Pauline was very involved in the Lake Pleasant 4-H Club and served as a leader for many years. The county fair was a big highlight of her summer. She also belonged to a Homemakers Club and Catholic Daughters. In her spare time she enjoyed reading romance, western and adventurous novels, listening to music and watching old fashioned movies. She enjoyed keeping up with local and national news and politics.

Pauline is preceded in death by her husband, Henry, brothers Harry, Leslie, George and sisters Elsie, Lucille and Isabel.

Survivors include eleven children: Hank W. Knott (Janet) Monticello, MN; Paulette Bush (Terry) Portland, OR, Gary Knott (Elizabeth) Minneapolis, MN; Merle Knott (Linda) Lincoln, NE; Duane Knott (Faith) Red Lake Falls, MN; Bonnie Klieg (Joe) Richfield, MN; Sharon Johnson (Bob) Thief River Falls, MN; Margie Nicholas, Klamath Falls, OR; Nancy Birrenkott (Joe) Durbin, ND; Glen Knott Thief River Falls, MN; and Philip Knott, Red Lake Falls, MN. She is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.


ORGANIST: Polly Beyer
SPECIAL MUSIC: St. Joseph Schola
CASKETBEARERS: Keith Knott, Joseph Busch, Gary Knott Jr, John Joseph Klein, Bob Johnson Jr, Adam Knott, Joseph Birrenkott, Aaron Knott and Matthew Knott
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: All of Paulines grandchildren